Santos to Los Angeles shipping route.

Ships leaving Santos for Los Angeles head north west and cover a sea distance of 7,568 nautical miles (14,016 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 9,945 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

Pure steaming time is 22.5 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 26.3 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 17.5. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Santos and Los Angeles to plan the full ocean transit time.

The next option is via Strait of Magellan, 8,083 nautical miles, 515 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Strait of Magellan is congested or closed.

53 nm of the route, 1% of it, lies inside North American ECA. In an emission control area ships must burn fuel with no more than 0.1% sulphur or clean the exhaust with scrubbers. That fuel costs more, and carriers add it to the ocean freight bill as a low sulphur or ECA surcharge.

Container freight rates on Santos to Los Angeles move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Los Angeles (USLAX) carriers give about 4 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 65 port to port routes from Santos in this directory, Los Angeles is the 35th shortest. Closer destinations include Salalah (7,358 nm), Auckland (7,110 nm) and Jeddah (7,105 nm).